An American Airlines flight carrying dozens of passengers collided with a military helicopter while he was approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport from Washington DC.
The plane then crashed into the Potomac river, officials said, and boats and divers are looking for survivors’ water.
The regional jet Bombardier CRJ700 – carrying 60 passengers and four crew members – collided with the helicopter while it was approaching the track around 9:00 p.m. (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday.
The plane came from Wichita, Kansas, according to the airline.
The crushed aircraft separated in half in the Potomac river with boats and divers in search of people, according to American media.
Three soldiers of the American army were aboard the Black Hawk military helicopter who collided with the jet, said a defense official.
The helicopter had taken off from very Belvoir in Virginia.
US President Donald Trump said he was “fully informed of the terrible accident”.
“Thank you for the incredible work accomplished by our first speakers. I monitored the situation and I will provide more details as they arise,” he said in a statement.
Takeoffs and landings were interrupted at the airport while emergency staff responds to the incident, the airport wrote in a position on X.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it was investigating.
